Adams Fire Snuff Out Columbia Street Fire

ADAMS, Mass. — The Fire department quickly knocked down a small fire at 246 1/2 Columbia St. on Wednesday.

Fire Chief John Pansecchi said the call came in late morning and once firefighters arrived at the single-family home, they were able to contain the blaze to one room that was used for storage by the owner.

"Knockdown was fairly quick once we got there and after we just had to do some overhaul," Pansecchi said. "It was pretty much contained in one room and there was some smoke and water damage."

Pansecchi said although the cause of the fire is still under investigation, it does not appear to be suspicious.

There were no injuries and they were able to retrieve a pet cat.

"There was a cat missing and they do like to hide but once things calmed down we were able to retrieve it," he said.

Pansecchi said because the call came in during the day when manpower is often an issue for volunteer departments, North Adams, Clarksburg, Savoy and Cheshire were automatically toned.

"They all arrived but we did not need them," he said.

He said the other departments did offer support and covered the station while the Adams Fire Department put out the fire.

Adams Ambulance and Police Department were also on scene.

Hoosac Valley High Informs Parents of Facebook Threat

08:10PM / Wednesday August 30, 2017

CHESHIRE, Mass. — School officials say they are working with local law enforcement on strengthening school security after a described "threat" was made on Facebook.

Superintendent Robert Putnam did provide information on the nature of the threat, when it occurred or how it was brought to the school's attention. A letter was sent home with Hoosac Valley High and Middle School students on Thursday, the first day of school.

"A threat was made on Facebook that could have potentially impacted Hoosac Valley High School," he wrote. "We have been working closely with Adams Police Department, the Cheshire Police Department, and the state police since Monday to craft and implement a plan that strengthens our ongoing efforts to ensure a safe school environment.

"Together with our law enforcement partners we are confident that we are ready to address all safety concerns at arrival, departure, and throughout the day."

Body Found on Mount Greylock Identified as Great Barrington Man

Staff Reports11:21AM / Tuesday July 18, 2017

Update July 18, 2017: The body discovered Monday afternoon on Mount Greylock has been identified as Kurt Kruger of Great Barrington.

Kruger's death is not considered suspicious, according to a statement from the Berkshire district attorney's office.

His was discovered by a pair of hikers on the Cheshire Harbor Trail about a mile from the summit of Mount Greylock at about 3:30 p.m. Kruger's body was taken to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Holyoke where an autopsy will be performed to determine the cause of death.

Kruger was a furniture maker and poet, whose work often appeared in the Berkshire Edge.

The investigation was conducted by state police detectives assigned to district attorney's office with assistance from the Crime Scene Services Section, troopers assigned to the Cheshire barracks, the Department of Conservation and Recreation, Berkshire Mountain Search and Rescue, the Adams Forest Wardens, the Cheshire Fire Department and Adams Ambulance Service.

Original posting, July 17, 2017, 11:33 p.m.: ADAMS, Mass. — A body was removed from the Mount Greylock State Reservation early Monday evening.

The body was apparently discovered by a hiker near the Cheshire Harbor Trail in the late afternoon, according to state police. Further inquiries were referred to the district attorney's office.

State police detectives assigned to the Berkshire district attorney's office and Crime Scene services responded to the scene, as did a state medical examiner.

Adams Forest Wardens and Adams Ambulance Service were also called to the trailhead off West Mountain Road in Adams to assist as needed. A quad all-terrain vehicle was brought to the site to help with the removal, according to scanner reports.

No further information was immediately available.

Adams Firefighters Douse Flaming Hot Tub

Staff Reports02:48PM / Thursday April 06, 2017

The fire was contained quickly but firefighters stayed at the scene for more than an hour.

ADAMS, Mass. — A relaxing hot tub soak could have turned into a tragedy on Wednesday night when the unit's motor malfunctioned.

Firefighters responded to what was reported as an electrical problem with a hot tub about 9:24 p.m. The quick response of a relative of the homeowner, who also happens to be an assistant fire chief, is credited with keeping it under control.

"He got here quick. By the time he got here, he had fire showing in the cellar around the hot tub, around all the wood that contained the hot tub," said Fire Chief Paul Goyette.

The owners had seen smoke but at first thought it was steam coming off the water, he said. When they realized it was a fire, they immediately put in the call.

It took about four fire extinguishers and 50 gallons of water to completely douse the blaze. There was some difficulty in venting the smoke, which continued to spill from the single family home for about an hour.

"It was a good knockdown," Goyette said.

Despite the small size of the blaze, a full contingent was one scene, including equipment and personnel from the Forest Wardens, Cheshire and Savoy. Narrow Walling Road lies outside the Fire District and Goyette said he wanted the right equipment on hand.

"There's no hydrants, so that's why I called for tanker and I would have called for more if it was worse," he said.

Adams Police and Adams Ambulance Service also responded. There was minimal water damage to the house.

"The hot tub is totaled, it will never be used again," Goyette said, adding jokingly, "nor would they want to put another one in there."

Suspect in New York Shooting Arrested in Adams

03:29PM / Friday March 03, 2017

ADAMS, Mass. — A suspect in a New York shooting was arrested Thursday in a Howland Avenue apartment.

According to media reports, U.S. Marshals from Springfield and New York arrested Jovan Bailey, 29, with the help of Adams Police and state police.

Bailey is charged with criminal possession of a weapon and second degree assault and is expected to appear in Berkshire Superior Court. He is wanted in the shooting of a Long Island, N.Y., man in January and will be returned to Suffolk County, N.Y., to answer charges.

According to Dave Milne from the U.S. Marshals Service in Springfield, the New York and New Jersey fugitive task force were searching for 29-year-old Jovan Bailey, who was accused of shooting an unidentified man in Long Island, New York back in January of 2017.

U.S. Marshals in New York were apparently tipped off that Baily was in Adams, where he was staying with two other people. According to news reports, Bailey was asleep when Marshals entered the apartment and thought he was being arrested for unpaid traffic tickets.